Total area with lily was 6.5 sq kms 2 years ago
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Aug 21: At least 18 machines are currently working continuously for completing the lily extraction in Dal lake as well as in its interiors while the authorities are eyeing to complete the remaining two square kilometers of the lily-infested area within the next two months.
Officials of the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) told Excelsior that from SKICC to Char Chinari, the lily extraction has been completed. At the same time, they said, from Nishat dockyard to Untt Kadal, towards the middle, the works of lily extraction stands completed.
As of now, the spots where the lily extraction is ongoing with the help of the machines of the LCMA including those that have been outsourced include two patches behind Char Chinari, and Sofi Mohalla from the Ashai Bagh side, and the Hazratbal basin.
“The patches behind Char Chinari is the area of 0.5 sq km where the work is on; at Ashai Bagh, Sofi Mohalla spot which is 1 sq km, the work is on-going there as well even as 40% of the entire work there has been completed; 2 machines have been stationed at Hazratbal basin which are carrying out the lily extraction of 0.5 sq km area; the remaining, we are expecting will be completed by October,” Dr. Bashir Ahmad Bhat, VC, LCMA told Excelsior.
The lily extraction in the world-famous Dal lake has been going on for a while now even as Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta recently directed the concerned officials to speed up the process of lily extraction along with other works such as the installation of STPs on the houseboats stationed in the lake to minimize the pollution.
Giving further details, Dr. Bhat said that 2 years ago, the lily in Dal lake was spread over an area of nearly 6.5 square kilometers, and until last year, he said, nearly 4.9 square kilometers of the area has been cleared.
“This year, the maximum lily will be extracted on the remaining area which is nearly two square kilometers and the same will be completed in the next few months; then begins the routine maintenance work which includes keeping a check on the growth of weed and taking the necessary step well in time,” he said.
As per officials, there is a presence of lilies in the Dal interiors as well where several machines have been stationed to clear the navigation channel. “We have identified a 10 km long navigation channel and of which nearly 2 km have been cleared while the rest of the work is ongoing,” they said.
Pertinent to mention, the LCMA has been directed by the Chief Secretary to increase the working shifts of machines to pace up the lily extraction in Dal lake, apart from making all the navigation channels operational.
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